The 5 Best Gaming Headsets Under $100 of 2025

Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) is the best headset under $100 for gaming that we've tested. These comfortable over-ears have low latency via their USB dongle, which ensures that your audio and visuals stay in sync during the heat of the moment. They can't be used wired, but with an amazing 85 hours of continuous battery life and an auto-off timer to conserve battery life when not in use, it won't be an issue for most people. They also support Bluetooth; you can't hear audio via the dongle and Bluetooth connections simultaneously, but you can press a button to switch between input sources.

These cans come with a very good microphone that you can handily flip up to mute. The mic reproduces your voice well, so you sound natural and realistic to whoever you're talking to. It also does a great job separating your voice from any noise around you. Out of the box, these headphones have a fairly balanced sound profile. They lack a touch of low-bass but have a bit of extra boom and warmth to help bring out sound effects like footsteps in gameplay. On the other hand, their mid-treble can make sibilants sound a bit piercing. If you prefer a different sound, they're compatible with Turtle Beach's Swarm II app, which allows you to customize their sound using a graphic EQ and presets.

If you'd rather not use EQ, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless have a flatter sound out of the box and a longer battery life than the Turtle Beach, but their mic isn't as good. They're also even more prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery than the Turtle Beach. With both of these headsets, it's worth taking some time to seat them on your head with each wear in order to ensure a consistent sound from wear to wear.

Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Check out the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless instead if you're looking for Bluetooth support. Unlike the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3), you can hear audio via both Bluetooth and wireless dongle connections simultaneously when using these headphones. The dongle's low latency performance ensures that your audio stays in sync with the visuals on your screen while you game. When it comes to sound, they deliver warmth and boom to your audio, helping to intensify sound effects. This slightly muddies voices and instruments, but you can always adjust the sound with the EQ and presets in the Razer Audio app.

Depending on your gaming setup, you can choose between the PlayStation variant (which also works with PC) or the Xbox version. They don't support a wired connection, though, so you don't have the option of plugging the cable into an AUX port for more versatility or to eliminate latency. Still, they last about 19 hours continuously to get you through a few long gaming sessions.

Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

If you want to avoid latency issues or have a better audio quality experience, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is the best wired gaming headset we've tested in the sub-$100 range. These over-ears offer some customization features, like programmable RGB lighting on the ear cups and a parametric EQ with presets when connected via a PC. You can use them via a wired USB cable or analog cable. We noticed a warping sound with our unit, but this only occurred using the USB connection, not via analog.

While picks like the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) offer low wireless latency, using the analog cable with these headphones virtually eliminates latency, making them a good choice if you're concerned about audio-syncing issues. They have a warm sound profile, with a touch of extra bass to help emphasize sound effects like footsteps when gaming. Dialogue and soundtracks are understandable but very dull and veiled. Luckily, their in-app graphic EQ and presets can help you customize the mix to suit your preferences.

While comfortable, their ski-band headband design doesn't reproduce a consistent fit, position, or seal, so take the time to ensure they're sitting well on your head before booting up your game. Despite their closed-back design, their soundstage feels wide and somewhat open. Their boom mic also captures speech well, but if you want an even better mic performance, check out the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II. Their boom mic is significantly better at separating your voice from any sounds around you, which is great if you're gaming in a noisy environment. However, they don't have any customization features to adjust their sound.

Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

At the sub-$100 price point, you start to run into more headphones with less-than-stellar build quality. Still, if you're looking for headphones with a durable feel, the HyperX Cloud Alpha S offer a sturdy design at a lower price point. Their price fluctuates above and below $100, but if you're patient, you'll catch a deal. Compared to many of the picks on this list, which are completely made of plastic, their design has some metal elements to help with durability, like a flexible aluminum frame. The cables are also braided and detachable, meaning you can replace them, and the ear cup padding is easy to swap out. The box includes two sets of padding: one cloth and one leather, so you can choose which you prefer.

Because of their wired design, they're compatible with most consoles and PCs. They have a comfortable fit and good overall mic performance, so your teammates will hear you clearly. A slider on each ear cup allows you to adjust the bass level in each ear separately. As expected, their sound profile is very bass-heavy with the sliders turned up. They deliver extra boom that helps bring out sound effects, but which also makes the mix sound muddy overall. Fortunately, voices and instruments are still present and clear. Still, you can't make any adjustments since these headphones don't work with companion software and lack sound customization features like an EQ.

Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox

The best open-back gaming headset we've tested is the Sennheiser Game One Gaming Headset. Consider an open-back design for gaming if audio quality is a high priority. These headphones are usually quite a bit pricier than our other picks, but you can frequently find them on sale around the $100 mark. This design allows them to create a wider, more spacious-seeming passive soundstage, making game audio more immersive. Their boom mic also has excellent recording quality, making your voice sound even more natural and full-bodied than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3)'s very good mic.

They're also more comfortable than the Turtle Beach headphones and have a sturdy build and wired design that eliminates latency. Like most open-back headphones, their sound lacks low-bass, so action-packed soundtracks don't have good thump and rumble. That said, their well-balanced high-bass response brings warmth and body into the mix, and the rest of the range is neutral, so elements like voices are clear and accurate. However, they aren't ideal for use outside of quiet environments since they hardly block ambient sound because of their open-back design.